Chapter 2: Mission
1107 Words
Rafael
Gabriel stops beside me, his expression grim as he gazes intently forward. I look out the cabin’s window and hand him the glass of scotch before I down my own. He just returned from hell after Michael asked him to protect a female attacked by a horde of Naga and seems a little disquieted.
Thankfully, Michael and the female’s friend, Valentina, were able to locate the Naga queen and kill her before their friend, Samira, turned.
Once Gabriel was done with his mission, I asked him to help me with a new threat. I thought Gabriel could use the distraction from all the negative thoughts running through his head.
Since we discovered the existence of our mates and witnessed their death, we’ve all experienced a bevy of emotions─regret being the biggest.
Gabriel seems to have taken the loss of his mate the hardest because he didn’t believe Michael and Lucifer when they revealed the females’ existence.
As for me, well, it has been a roller coaster of emotions to know that I only got a glimpse of my future before it was snatched away from me. Though I lost something important, I got my brother's back, and we’re closer than ever.
“I’m glad Michael was able to save Valentina’s friend from the Naga.”
Gabriel scoffs, “I’m just happy to no longer be playing nursemaid to a human,” he waves his hand with dismissal, “That doesn’t matter anyway. How is your investigation into the Hand of God proceeding?”
I hand my brother my tablet and gesture toward my comfortable sofa, “Well, it seems that they’ve given up on simply kidnapping angel females and have expanded on taking any powerful female for their breeding program.”
Gabriel’s golden hair flutters with agitation, “How is that even possible without our essence?”
My lips tighten into a grimace, “We learned that the Creator preserved feathers from our wings and our grace before he decided to put in motion his plans to recreate the world. The Hand of God zealots have somehow gained possession of it and are using genetic material to breed the females. However, they have not succeeded, and I plan on stopping them before they do.”
Gabriel shakes his head incredulously, his golden hair fluttering with his movements, “I can’t believe they are doing this.”
I shrug, “Unfortunately, the process is deadly, and we’ve lost many females. However, it doesn’t stop them from continuing this fruitless quest.”
A deep sigh escapes his lips as he gazes back at me, “You know, you’re the new Creator, and an investigation like this is beneath your status?”
I shrug, “Jist because I replaced the Creator; it doesn’t mean I am now going to sit on my throne and let others do my duties. I’d like to think I’m more proactive than our father was.”
Gabriel scoffs derisively, “Even if you delegate your duties to others, you’d still be a better choice than he was. What do you need from me?”
“One of my sources called this morning to tell me that several Hand of God officials were spotted reconvening around Jordan. However, another of my sources told me that one of The Hand of God’s top doctors was spotted in Spain. The Council thinks he might have a clinic where they’re experimenting on females. Since I can’t be in two places at once, regardless of my status as the new Creator, I need someone I can trust to do recon in Jordan,” I look intently into my brother’s dark eyes and mutter, “Are ye up for it?”
Gabriel arches a brow, “Are you sure you want me to do this?”
Leaning close, I place my palm against his shoulder and give him a reassuring smile, “I know ye can, Gabriel. Believe it or not, I trust ye. You’re my brother, and I missed ye after my fall.”
His expression is shuttered for a moment, and his shoulders droop. I can see that he’s thinking it through. Of all of us, Gabriel was the most loyal to The Creator. Unfortunately, his blind loyalty led to him losing us once we fell. However, I never held any enmity toward him. It’s jist the kind of angel he is. Lucifer was the literal hellraiser, Michael was the mother hen, Gabriel was the regimented one, and I was the peacekeeper.
His eyes are full of turmoil when he swallows hard and begrudgingly mutters, “I missed you too. I was a blind fool for letting The Creator manipulate me into not trusting you, Michael, and Lucifer.”
I shrug, “Ye need to stop being so hard on yerself, Gabriel. We’ve all made mistakes, and none of us are angry at ye,” I snicker, “Maybe a little frustrated, but never angry. And though things are not quite how they should be, I feel we’ll be alright in the end.”
Gabriel’s shoulders straighten, “You’re right. What matters now is that we fix what The Creator ruined.”
As I gesture toward the tablet, my lip quirks, “I agree. This tablet holds all the information we gathered on The Hand of God. Because we don’t want to risk them discovering our plan, The Council and I agreed to keep this covert, which means no communication outside our teams once you arrive in Jordan.”
His brow furrows, “Do Lucifer and Michael know about this? They’ve been trying to contact you for days.”
I shake my head, “No, I haven’t spoken to Lucifer or Michael. They have had enough of dealing with the kidnapping occurring near them and the issue of containing Lilith’s darkness in the vessel. I don’t really want to worry them more than they already are. Which is why I think it’s best to keep this between us until our mission is complete. Will you help me?”
He gazes down at the tablet and rises from his seat, “Consider it done,” he looks back at me, “Be safe, brother.”
Standing beside him, I extend my hand, “Ye too, brother.”
To my surprise, Gabriel wraps his arms around me and embraces me awkwardly before he flashes out of the room.
I smile inwardly at his gesture. Of all of us, Gabriel has the most difficulty expressing emotions.
As I flash to Spain, I hope he and Michael can find happiness. It’s the least he and my brothers deserve after all they’ve suffered.
- Writer
